Instep-support.



PATEN'IED DEC. 10, 1907.

P. N. MOKINNON. INSTEP SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED APB.13,1906.

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UNITE FRED NORMAN MCKINNON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS;

INSTEP-SUPPOR'I.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1907.

Application filed April 13, 1906. Serial No. 311,494.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED NORMAN Mc KINNON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Instep-Support, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in. devices designed to be placed in shoes or boots, with an object to secure a practically rigid support for the arch of a wearers foot and yet permit of sufficient yielding or spring.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the general description.

I will describe an instep support embodying my invention and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Reference is to be had to the drawings forming a part of this specification, in which. similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an instep support embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan thereof; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3'of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a steel shank of a resilient nature, formed to fit the under side of a persons foot, and extended from the heel of the shoe well into the sole of the shoe, the shank or plate being of such length that the bearing on each end will come on firm parts of the shoe sole and thereby prevent crushing in of the instep, which would occur if a shorter shank were used. The shank is rounded at the heel portion and made somewhat wider at the forward portion, thus providing a good bearing.

To support the inner or greatest curve of the arch of the foot a steel plate 2 is employed, which is riveted at one end to a shank 1, and extends transversely thereof. It will be noted that the shank 1 is curved upward from the ends to the center and this plate 2 is practically secured to the greatest part of the curve. The said plate 2 is curved upward from the shank and projects somewhat beyond the side of the shank. The said. plate 2 will have suflicient surface or area to hold the bones of a persons foot in proper position. The plate 2 is short, and

therefore, is rigid, thus preventing the bones of the arch from dislodging, which would 1 ployed and is covered on the under and upper sides by leather strips 5, 6, the said strips and cork being secured to the shank by means of rivets 7; of course, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, the cushion passes over the transverse plate 2.

Having thus described my invention I claim. as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An instep support comprising an upwardly arched resilient plate having a rounded rear end to bear on the heel and a widened front endfor engaging the sole, a rigid plate secured to the resilient plate at one edge and at approximately the center thereof and transversely thereof, the free end of said rigid plate being curved, and a cushion supported by the plates.

2. An instep support comprising an upwardly arched resilient plate having a rounded. rear end to bear on the heel and a widened front end for engaging the sole, and a rigid plate secured to' the resilient plate at one edge and at approximately the center thereof, the end of said rigid plate being curved upwardly.

' 3. An instep support comprising an upwardly arched resilient plate whose one end is adapted to bear on the heel and whose other end is adapted for engaging the sole,

and a rigid plate secured to the resilient plate at one edge at approximately the cen ter thereof, the end of said rigid plate being curved upwardly.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRED NORMAN MGKINNON.

\Vitnesses FREDERICK B. LAMB, WILLARD R. EASTMAN. 

